Northland police say they are now investigating a homicide after a 61-year-old man, who was assaulted on Wednesday, died in hospital.
Dargaville's Christopher Edwards was flown to Auckland Hospital for emergency surgery on Wednesday evening when he was found in a house and could not be woken following a fight.
Mr Edwards suffered a fractured skull and died in Auckland Hospital on Friday.
A post-mortem is being carried out and police are speaking to people who were at the house.
Detective Inspector Karyn Malthus said Mr Edwards was earlier in a fight at the house and a 42-year-old man was charged with assault. He will appear in Dargaville District Court on Friday.
NZN